Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Barnes LRX tips

I just received a few boxes of .308 175gr LRX bullets. I've loaded the TTSX before but this is my first time using the LRX. I was surprised to see the tips on the LRX were off center. Just about every bullet in the box was that way. I haven't loaded any yet but I'd imagine the off center tio isn't going to help with accuracy. Is this a common issue with the LRX or did I get a bad lot?

I noticed the same thing on a couple boxes I bought: .308 cal 175gr LRX. I wonder if we should compare lot #'s? As far as accuracy is concerned, I have not noticed any weird affects. I load these in 2 of my 300wby's and 1 300RSAUM. Sub moa groups is the norm. Load some up and I'll bet you will get good results as well.

Where would I find the lot #?

It should be on the side of the box under the caliber and weight description at the very bottom.

That's not good. Hopefully Barnes will make that right.

Just ordered 4 boxes of LRX’s……I hope that mine don’t have the same issues! memtb

Looks like lot # R001383-2 221V TB-M

Give them a call. They will have all sorts of data about the lot.

I've definitely seen "tip wobble" on TTSX's when rolled on a hard, flat surface.

Is this what you mean by off center? or do you mean total lateral displacement of the plastic tip base when it meets up with the copper bullet?

I don't like this situation one bit - it seems like these should be culled as a defect by the factory inspector.

And no, I haven't done a double blind test to see if this affects accuracy.

Check these out. I noticed the same thing with the ones I loaded, but they still shoot good:


Zoom in if you have to, but you can see they are off a bit. Look at the ones in the lower right. I'm wondering if the op's are worse or about the same? I've seen the same thing with TTSX's too, so I just disregarded it figuring it was the norm with these bullets.

For as much as they cost, I’d be sending those back.
Those wouldn’t even qualify as Nosler seconds.

You guys would be sending a lot of bullets back, as I've seen a bunch of Barnes bullets like this. Check these out. They are 165 TTSX:


Don't try to tell me yours look any different..

Those look worse than any I've used over the past 15 years.

Every TTSX or LRX I’ve bought look like those in the pics above.

I've only used the 22 cal versions, but I've noticed the same off-center tip thing when rolling them across the bench. They shoot great though. They're not long range projectiles anyway.

They look just like those. Just wanted to know if this is normal for Barnes. I've loaded many bullets from Hornady, Nosler, Federal including bullets that were considered seconds and the tip always looked close to perfect.

Yes, pretty much the same as what I have. I've loaded some TTSX bullets before and never noticed off center tips. Glad to hear they still shoot well for you. Maybe I'll load so up and see how it goes.

Let us know how they work out for you. Like some others have said, they have noticed the same thing. I'm like you though, I thought it was unusual. I'm used to shooting Hornady eldx, eld match bullets and other tipped bullets and they are much more uniform looking than the Barnes. To be fair, I am new to Barnes bullets. I always like to throw out some pics of how certain bullets or rifles shoot, so here goes. The 175 LRX loaded in the above pic shoot like this after load development:


Then to recheck how they did after putting that barreled action into a Brown Precision PoundR stock a few months ago:


Sub moa for 3 shots for a hunting rifle is good enough. Those off center 165 TTSX do alright in my 300RSAUM as well. Shot this group a few months ago with my little Ruger:

Right around 1/2 moa for 3 shots. ^^^ Load some up, you might be surprised how well they shoot..

Aren't the tips basically weightless? How would a barely perceptible offset affect anything besides appearance?

Maybe what this proves is that the tips really don't do much for BC .... they just increase expansion. I would think it certain that a thusly poorly tipped arrow would have flight problems.
If you pull a badly centered tip out, is the hole off center too?